Holy Rosary Parish Church (Angeles)

Angeles Church
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church
Facade of the Holy Rosary Parish Church in Angeles CIty
Angeles Church Republic of the Philippines
15°08′03″N 120°35′25″E / 15.134274°N 120.590265°E / 15.134274; 120.590265
Location	Angeles, Philippines
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1877 (1877)
Dedication	Most Holy Virgin of the Rosary
Dedicated	Feb. 12, 1896
Consecrated	1877 to 1896
Administration
Province	Pampanga
Division	Region 3

The Holy Rosary Parish, formerly known as Santo Rosario Church, today fondly called by locals as "Pisambang Maragul" ("Big Church") stands in the epicenter of the old Culiat town, now Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines. The church has recently been recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as a national historical site.^[1]

History

The foundations of the church were first laid out on October 18, 1877 by the founding families of Angeles City led by of Don Mariano V. Henson, It was as laid out by city planners in the Spanish colonial era and now is one of the most distinctive landmark of the city today because of its historical significance related on how it was built. The church was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the "Polo y Servicio" labor system, defined as the forced and unpaid labor of the Filipino native people for 40 days per year to all males from 16–65 years old by the Spanish colonial government. The first mass was held in the half of the church that was finished by April 14, 1886. The second half of the church which includes the building's distinctive dome, was finished on September 17, 1891. The twin bells were rung for the first time on February 12, 1896. The church was finally finished as it still stands today on October 1909. It's engineering and architectural skills where provided by Don Antonio de la Camara from Manila.^[2]

The backyard of the church became the execution grounds from 1896-1898 in shooting down Filipino rebels and suspects by the Spanish forces.^[2] And it was also used by the U.S. Army as a military hospital from 1899 to 1900. The church's bellfry was destroyed in the 1940s as a result of the World War II. It was immediately restored by the government with the help of American troops and was finished by early 1944. Today, the Holy Rosary Parish Church serves as the city's main religious center, being located at the front of the former city hall, now known as the Museo ning Angeles. Local devotees flock the church and faithfully attend activities especially during the Holy Week. Two of the awaited activities are the Good Friday Procession, where bare-footed followers of the Apung Mamacalulu, or the Holy Sepulchre join the procession in the city complex; and the Salubong, held at the Nepo Parking Lot, that ends with the traditional meeting of the Risen Christ and Virgin Mary amidst the fireworks. ^[3]

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  Auxiliary Bishop Virgilio Pablo David

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holy Rosary Parish Church.

Churches of Pampanga http://www.andropampanga.com/churches/angelescity_church.htm.